Brick supporting clip



FRA/wf Filedv Nov. 25, 1955 BRICK SUPPORTING CLIP F. J. WALLACE ETAL Dec. 23, 195s United States Paten-'t0 BRICK SUPPORTING CLIP Frank J. Wallace, Portland, Oreg., and Alfred Kenneth' Chilton, Berkeley, Calif.; said Wallace assignor to said Chilton Application November 25, 1955, Serial No.`543,899

3 Claims. (Cl. 72-103) This invention generally relates to wall constructions, and is more specifically directed towards a clip device for holding bricks in proper position prior to the application of mortar -between adjacent bricks in a row and between the adjacent courses or layers of the bricks.

Heretofore, there have been developed various supporting members adapted to be mounted on a vertical wall surface for receiving and positioning bricks so as to subsequently provide a decorative covering for the surface. Unfortunately, such prior art devices were relatively complicated and expensive and/ or did not adequately perform their requisite functions. Accordingly, these devices have notvacquired any widespread acceptance lby the trade or purchasing public.

It is therefore an object of the prevent invention to provide a simple and inexpensive brick facing supporting 2,865,194 Patented Dec. 2 3, 1958 ice of conventional wall. For purpose of illustration, a Wall l is disclosed in Figures l and ,2 of the drawing, and will be seen to include spaced vertically extending wall studs 6, covered by sheathing 7, over which a tar paper layer 8 may be provided. This is a very common structural arrangement for exterior surfaces of homes or other buildings, and in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, means are provided whereby even a person lacking any skill in the art may readily provide a decorative brick facing or siding for the entire wall or any desired portion thereof. Y

The brick supporting clip as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing basically includes a vertically extending angle section having flanges 12 and 13, with the flange 12 positioned immediately against the wall surface, and the ilange 13 extending normal to the surface. Preferably, for reasons of better support for the clip, the ilange 12 should extend along and be secured to the studs 6, and -by means of suitably spaced apertures 14 in the flange 12, the clip -may be easily secured to the wall by driving nails 16 therethrough. As will be later explained in detail the means which is adapted to hold the bricks in predetermined spaced relationship to a wall surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will insure a uniform spacing of the individual bricks from the supporting wall surface irrespective of any irregularities on the rear surface contour of the central portions of the bricks.

A further object of the invention is to provide an irnproved clip supporting means wherein a rigid brick support is provided so as toinsure the bricks being 'maintained in horizontal regularity without sagging or other deformation prior to the application of mortar or cement between the brick layers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a clip of the character described,means for securing the same to a wall surface so as to sturdily reinforce the brick engaging portions of the clip, and in which a plurality of such strips may be readily spliced together while still maintaining proper spacing of the brick supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip of the character 'described which is lightweight and which may be readily stamped or otherwise economically mass produced, yetwhich is sufficiently strong and rigid in presenting its portions of maximum strength to the brick.

The invention possesses other objects and featuresof advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a front view of a portion of a wall construction using the clip of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the clips.

Before discussing the details of the clip itself, which is best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, it should lbe understood that the clip is adapted for use on any type nail head is not positioned against the flange 12 after being driven but is adapted to reinforce another part of the clip.

Provided at vertically spaced portions along the flange 13 are brick-supporting brackets 15, disposed in coplanar relationship with the flange 13 and preferably forming an integral part thereof. Each bracket includes a generally rectangular portion 17, and extending in coplanar relationship to the portion 17 is a further extension 18 extend-` ing generally medially of the upper and lower ends of.

the portion 17. To complete the bracket structure, a tab 19 is provided, the tab being deformed at right angles from the plane of flange 13 and portions 17 and 18 to lie in generally parallel spaced relationship to the flange 12. As will be noted, the upper end 21 of the tab 19 lies in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge 22 of the extension 18, while the lower end 23 of the tab projects below the lower edge surface 24 of the portion 18 to approximately the lower end surface 26 of the bracket 17. Also, an aperture 27 is provided in the tab adjacent the upper edge thereof and such aperture from each bracket is aligned with one of the apertures 14 in the flange 12, whereby the nail 16, which holds the clip to the wall, may engage both apertures 27 and 14y and there- -by greatly reinforce the portions of the clip extending beyond the distal edge 29 of the flange 13. It will be immediately apparent that with respect to a pair of adjacent brackets, the surfaces 26, 29 and 31,` the latter being the upper edge surface of the portion 17, define a generally rectangular recess 32 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

When theclips are positioned as shown in Figures kl sectional configuration, including a planar upper surface 37 and a similar lower surface 39. However, the rear surface 39 as well as the front surface 41 are only llat along the longitudinally extending marginal edge portions thereof, and the center portions 42 and 43 respectively are irregular and may extend beyond the general plane of the surfaces 39 and 41 to obtain a more decorative and ornamental effect. Consequently, with most types of clips previously used, it was difficult to properly align adjacent bricks due to variations in the degree of the central projecting portions of the brick. However, with the clip of the present invention this diiculty has been obviated by having the clip engage the brick only on the at rear surface portions 39 rather than on the projected portions 42 or 43.

To install the bricks 36, the lower edge surface 38 thereof is supported onthe upper: surface 21 ofthe tab and the upper surface 22 of the extension 19 and moved towards the wall surface until the planar rear wall portion 39 of the brick engages the vertical shoulderY 46 of. the rectangular bracket portion 17. However, in moving the brick to this position the portion of tab 19 dependingV below the lower edgey 24 of extension 18 will intercept the upper edge of the brick, the height of the latter beinggreater than the distance between surface 22 of onebracket andthe end 23 of the adjacent bracket tab, and consequently the lower end portion of the tab will be deformed towards the wall surface -asV illustrated in Figure 2. As the clip is made out of sheet metal, the tab will be readily deformed upon forceful entry of the brick into theclip and the deformed tab will serve to hold the'Y brick in the position shown, with the upper and lower coplanar surfaces 39 of the rear surfacer of the brick being positioned against the vertical walls or shoulders 464 of adjacent brackets. As best shown in Figure 2, the recess 32 is of sufficient depth to fully accommodate the projecting7 portion 42 of the brick without having; the latter in engagement with any portion of the clip or the wall surface. There is thus left a considerable space S1 between the rear surface of the brick and thetar paper 8 or sheathing 7 whereby mortar or other bonding-material, which is subsequently applied between the bricks, may fall` into such. recess for insuring retention of the bricksto the wall surface.

After the bricks have been installed' in the manner above` described, mortar 52 may be applied between adjacentcourses of bricks and between the end portions of bricks inthe samev course for providing an integral brick:V siding or facing wall construction.

- In view of the fact that in some cases the clips will extend for a substantial vertical distance, it may be necessary to splice two or more sections of clips together. Accordingly, in between the apertures 14 on the flange 12 there are provided supplemental apertures 61 extending at predetermined spaced positions along the length of the flange. In this manner, as shown in Figure 2, a pair'of clips may be joined together by overlapping two of the apertures 615 and driving av nail 62 therethrough to secure the clip portions against the wall surface. Withl the nail holding the two clip members, the brackets of each member will still retain their proper spaced relationship.

It should be readily appreciated that by virtue of the nail 1`6'passing through a portion of the tab 19 as well as the flange 12, only the lower portion of the tab will be deformed` andl the nail will serve as a reinforcement to prevent deformation of the clip bracket. Furthermore, after deformation of the lower tab portion, the latterV possesses sufficient strength to securely hold the brick inA proper-position until the mortarrnay be applied; Also, since the brick is supported on the thickness of each bracket rather than along the width thereof, there is little opportunity for any deformation of the bracket which would result in misalignment of adjacent bricks.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, an integrally formed brick-supporting clip comprising a longitudinally extending angle having flanges, the first of said flanges being adapted for mounting against a wall surface and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures extending therethrough for receiving a nail, the second of said flanges having provided thereon a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets extending in generally coplanar relationship with` said second flange, the upper edge of each bracket defining a support for the lower surface of a brick, an angularly related tab extending from the distal end of each bracket and disposed in parallel spaced relationship to said first flange, said tab having an aperture in alignment with one of said flange apertures whereby a nail may be operatively driven through eachl of said apertures for securing said clip to a wall' surface and reinforcing said tab, and said tab having a deformable depending portion subjacent said aperture and adapted to engage the upper surface of a brick.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which adjacent brackets define therebetween and with the edge of.

said second flange, a recess, and means extending vertically from the ends of said recess for engaging the upper and lower marginal edge portions of the rear surface of a brick.

3. A- device for supporting bricks comprising a longitudinally extending,r angular strip having a first and second flange, said first flange having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures thereon, said second flange having a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets extending in general coplanar relationship therefrom, each of said brackets having an integral rectangular portion extending from the edge of said second flange and an integral extension extending from the outer edge of said rectangular portion and medially of the ends thereof defining a pair of shoulders, an angular projection extending from the end of said extension and disposed in parallel spaced relationshipv to said first flange, said projection having an upper edge surface aligned with the upper edge of said extension adapted to support the lower edge of a brick and a depending tab portion whose distal end extends below the lower edge of said extension, said projection. having an aperture therein aligned with an aperture in said first flange, and said tab portion being deformable upon the insertion of a brick between adjacent brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,334 Kelly May 12, 193.1 2,044,216 Klages' June 16, 1936 2,103,569 Wallace et al. Dec.. 28, 1937 2,300,258 Kublanow Oct. 27, 1942 

